About The Program:
Food for Thought is a comprehensive program that consists of separate but integrated elements: garden-based learning, nutrition education, farm field trips for agricultural literacy, and the “5Rs” (reduce, reuse, recycle, rot and rethink!). We strive to strengthen the linkages between these elements so that the lessons learned in one are reinforced and tested in the others and reinforce the overall connections between a healthy body, a healthy agricultural community, and a healthy environment.
Each grade level, from Kindergarten to 6th Grade, focuses on a different Food For Thought program element so that upon graduation from elementary school, a child has experienced all elements of the program.
Kindergarten and 1st Grade: Garden-based Learning.
K and 1st graders do a garden-based learning project that focuses on a multisensory approach to learning plant parts using carrots, peas, broccoli, pumpkins and sunflowers. They create a Sunflower House and a Pumpkin Circle and read associated books like Tops and Bottoms.
2nd grade: Worm bins.
2nd graders focus on ways to reduce trash by learning how to make a trashless lunch, separate trash for recycling, and separate green waste from the salad bar in order to make and maintain worm bins to generate topsoil for the garden.
3rd grade: Nutrition education.
3rd graders receive three nutrition education lessons throughout the school year that focus on increasing awareness of the different food groups and nutrients and the contributions that they make to overall good health. They also learn about healthy snacks they can make themselves.
4th grade: Farm field trips.
4th graders take field trips to local farms to learn directly from the farmer about the joys and work involved in growing food. They harvest and sample fruit and vegetables in season while learning about the history and heritage of Ventura and Santa Barbara County farms.
5th grade: Garden-based learning.
5th graders experiment with different growing conditions, record data and learn about the scientific method through hands-on study in the garden.
6th grade: Nutrition education and waste audits.
6th graders receive three nutrition education lessons that focus on making healthy choices within the different food groups as well as hands-on opportunities to learn about appropriate serving sizes and reading product content labels. 6th graders also conduct waste audits, sorting lunch waste, compiling data, and presenting their findings and solutions for minimizing waste in school-wide assemblies.
Matilija Junior High School and Nordhoff High School.
In 2009, we will be starting to initiate elements of Green & Healthy Schools Program.
The Program Includes:
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School Food
We are working with OUSD school food service to get as much seasonal, fresh and local produce into all school meals.
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Nutrition Education
3rd graders receive three nutrition education lessons throughout the school year that focus on increasing awareness of the different food groups. 6th graders receive three nutrition education lessons that focus on making healthy choices within the different food groups.
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Garden Based Learning
K and 1st graders do a garden-based learning project that focuses on a multisensory approach. 5th graders plant a Colonial Kitchen Garden, learning how colonial era families depended on their home gardens for food, medicine and other needs.
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5R's
2nd graders focus on ways to reduce trash by learning how to make a trashless lunch, separate trash for recycling, and separate green waste from the salad bar in order to make and maintain worm bins to generate topsoil for the garden.
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Agricultural Literacy
4th graders take field trips to local farms to learn directly from the farmer about the joys and work involved in growing food.
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